The Peace Cycle 2009

The International Court of Justice to the European Parliament

28-31 March 2009

Event Report

Contents:Page No:

1. Background 1

2. Event summary 3

3. Photos online 8

4. Peace Cycle in the News 8

5. Special Thanks 10

Appendix A1. European Parliament Lobby Paper 11

Appendix A2. Feedback from individual MEP meetings 18

Appendix B. Charities endorsed by The Peace Cycle 22

Appendix C. Statement of Accounts 23

1. Background

The Peace Cycle, in a symbolic act, cycled from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague to the European Parliament in Brussels (~200km) aiming to highlight the significance of these international institutions in applying pressure on Israel to hold it to account for its violations of human rights and international law.

In 2004, the ICJ ruled that Israel’s construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and in East Jerusalem contravened international law. It formally stated that Israel was obligated to stop its construction, dismantle existing parts of the wall and to pay reparations for all damages caused by its construction. To date, not only has Israel not complied with any of these rulings, but it has, in fact, accelerated the wall’s construction. By the end of 2008, 57% (409km) of the planned route had been constructed, with a further 9% (66km) still under construction.[1]

The European Union (EU) first signed an Association Agreement with Israel in 1995, a legally binding contract that allows Israel privileged trading terms with EU countries conditional upon respect for human rights. Article 2 of the Agreement states

‘Relations between the parties, as well as all the provisions of the Agreement itself, shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement.’[2]

The Peace Cycle firmly believes that in light of Israel’s lack of ‘respect for human rights and democratic principles’ (many examples of which Peace Cyclists have witnessed with their own eyes), Israel should not be awarded such a privileged status, and the Agreement should be suspended until it is held to account. Furthermore, any upgrade within the Action Plan should not be passed into legislation until the EU considers the issues of human rights and international law. MEPs successfully voted to have an upgrade taken off the agenda in December 2008 due to human rights abuses in Gaza. Although pleased that MEP’s had used their judgement in (temporarily) shelving the upgrade, it was felt that pressure should be continued so MEPs might continue to lobby for the cancellation of further upgrades in the future.

Peace Cyclists rode some 200km to the European Parliament, where they lobbied their MEPs and held a presentation to parliamentarians to call for a suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and a ban on further upgrades within the Action Plan. A public petition of 17,726 signatures[3] was delivered, supporting this position.

Many people have talked about standing up against injustice, but how many people have got on their bikes for it?

2. Event Summary

Saturday 28th March 2009

(ICJ, The Hague to Antwerp, ~140km)

Peace Cyclists and many supporters from Europe and the Middle East gathered in front of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague at 10:00 on Saturday morning. A reception supported by the Nederlands Palestina Komitee (NPK), Palestinians living in The Netherlands, plus other solidarity activists generously served delicious refreshments for the cyclists and their hosts. After a photo opportunity in front of the gates of the ICJ, some speeches were given by the NPK and Al-Awda, as well as through a megaphone attachment to a mobile phone from Harry van Bommel,member of the Dutch Parliament (SP). Peace cyclists were busy meeting the many supporters, attaching Palestinian flags to their bikes, getting their fill of the delicious fruit and chocolate cakes, and packing their bags into the support vehicle, kindly sponsored by the Socialist Party (SP) of the Netherlands. A Dutch Peace Cyclist provided a second support vehicle and another crewmember travelled from the UK to help with the driver of the van to support the ride. After an early morning of rain and hail, the sun finally started to shine as nearly forty cyclists mounted their bikes and waved goodbye to cycle south towards Brussels.

The NPK led the cyclists out of The Hague towards the first stop - the small, charming, and very Dutch city of Delft for a photo opportunity under the statue of Hugo Grotius, the founding father of international law. In the main square of the city, peace cyclists made a very colourful spectacle waving flags, blowing whistles, and giving out flyers to passers by and local Dutch people sitting in outdoor cafes and enjoying the morning air. The flyers described the actions and aims of The Peace Cycle’s trip to the European Parliament.

After Delft, Peace Cyclists continued to Rotterdam train station, where none of the cyclists opted to take the train for part of the distance. After a quick lunch, a few flat tyres and other bike maintenance, we said our goodbyes to some of our Dutch friends. More than thirty Peace Cyclists continued for the 60km stretch south to Roosendaal, the longest stretch of the day’s ride. With a few more punctures and the afternoon drawing on, the road seemed endless (although still relatively flat to our relief). In the face of the growing challenge and as the realisation dawned that this journey would continue well into the night, the spirit and the perseverance of the group only strengthened. We reached Roosendaal by 19:30 and after regrouping in a warm café and a few hits of coffee the group split. A group of three cyclists went ahead by van to Antwerp to deliver the baggage to the Youth Hostel (as the van and driver had to return to The Hague that night), book in the whole group, prepare bedding and organise late night food for the bulk of the cyclists who by this time were cycling though the darkness and cold.

However, the following 50km down to Antwerp passed remarkably quickly, with a strong pace being maintained by tired and hungry cyclists. After a couple of hours we finally arrived in central Antwerp at 22:30. Some cyclists staying with friends or in other hotels left the group at this point, while the majority of us continued south towards the youth hostel – extremely late for check-in! A rather despairing hour was then spent trying to find a somewhat obscured hostel. Finally, a local friend of one of the cyclists saved the day by coming to find us in her car and driving us directly there. Pizzas and beds were an extremely welcome sight.

Sunday 29th March 2009

(Antwerp to Brussels, ~60km)

Peace Cyclists were met in the morning by members of the Via-Vélo Palestine-Palestina (VVPP), a Belgian cycling organisation that arranges bike rides around both the Flemish and French regions of Belgium to raise awareness about the plight of the Palestinian people. The VVPP and other participants met in central Antwerp before cycling down to the south of the city to meet Peace Cyclists at their youth hostel. The group continued to grow as more and more cyclists joined until some sixty cyclists left Antwerp adorned with Palestinian flags and khufiyas.

The ride from Antwerp to Brussels was a much more reasonable ~60km. The participation of many more cyclists and activists, the more relaxed pace, the excellent group cycling coordination skills of the VVPP (with their own STOP signs for holding up the traffic!) and of course the sunshine, contributed to an enjoyable and inspiring day. A long and relaxed lunch stop in Kapelle op den Bos allowed people to meet and mix. It was a great opportunity to network and build connections with Belgian and other European activists.

Arriving in Brussels at 16:00 the group cycled directly to Les Halles de Schaerbeek, where we were welcomed by Zamâan de AWSA (Arab Women’s Solidarity Association[4]), a musical choir singing Palestinian songs in a public space in front of the building. More than a hundred people had gathered to welcome the cyclists, a very moving and inspiring moment for all those involved. After a few speeches given by the VVPP and a spokesperson from the Peace Cycle about the cycling and parliamentary lobbying events taking place, the riders participated inside the stunning conference hall.

Les Halles de Schaerbeek (a multi-disciplinary arts, performance, and conference hall), were holding a conference titled ‘Hommage à Gaza’ or ‘Homage to Gaza’. Events included a series of poetry sessions, photographic exhibitions, stalls, debates and workshops organised by the Association belgo-palestinienne (ABP). One key talk was due to be given by Dr. Eyad al-Sarraj, the Gazan psychiatrist and Director of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme[5], an initiative that is in dire need of serious funding. However, Dr. al-Sarraj was prevented from leaving Gaza by the Israeli Army and so could not make his presentation at the conference. On behalf of the cyclists, The Peace Cycle will make a donation of £100 to the GCMHP in Gaza.

A few more Peace Cyclists met us at Les Halles, including a family who arrived from Dubai (cyclists from the 2004 ride from London to Jerusalem). Peace Cyclists met journalists and Palestinian Diaspora and activists and again the solidarity and networking was felt to be a very significant and enjoyable part of the whole experience.

That evening, Peace Cyclists partied away to the Gaza Team[6], a Palestinian Hip-Hop band who had recently released their first album. After a couple of days of intense physical endurance, the warm reception and support that Peace Cyclists received from Les Halles de Schaerbeek and all those working there and involved in the events, was invaluable and appreciated so much.

Monday 30th March 2009

(No cycling, individual lobby meetings with MEPs)

Finally this was a 'free' day of no cycling! Instead, individual cyclists had been encouraged to arrange meetings with their individual MEPs in order to discuss The Peace Cycle's concerns regarding the EU-Israel Association Agreement, why The Peace Cycle calls for its suspension and no further upgrade, and to discuss the representative's views. A total of fourteen MEPs from the UK and Belgium were met on Monday 30th and Tuesday 31st. These were from a range of parties including Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem, SNP, Green, and Christian Democrat. Mainly these were MEPs who agreed with the Peace Cycle's position and already supported the call for a suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. There were still two who disagreed however, both being members of the Friends of Israel.

For a copy of The Peace Cycle’s preparatory lobby paper for the European Parliament see Appendix A1. For more in-depth feedback from the individual meetings with MEPs and the particular issues discussed, see Appendix A2.

Tuesday 31st March 2009

(Cycling through Brussels city to the European Parliament to present to Parliamentarians)

VVPP and The Peace Cycle left Les Halles at 09:00, accompanied by film crew from Al Arabiya to cycle around Brussels city centre. Stops were made at media offices including Le Soir, La Libre Belgique, and some Flemish press organisations at the Place Flagey in order to publicise the events that had taken place and the imminent presentation due to take place at the European Parliament. The group arrived at the Place de Luxembourg, the gardens in front of the Parliament, at 11:00, where other supporters had gathered accompanied by music, supported by the Association belgo-palestinienne (ABP). Cyclists paraded twice around the large Place, waving Palestinian flags and speaking to passers-by and parliamentarians in an informal setting. Members of the ABP also held meetings with representatives of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the office of Ms Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Affairs and European Neighbourhood Policy.

The Peace Cycle was informed shortly before the events of the day began that despite confirmation, the former Bishop of Jerusalem, Bishop Riah Abu el-Assal, would not be able to attend the events at the Parliament and for reasons beyond his control could not travel from London to join us.

Jean Lambert, a Green Party London MEP, hosted the one-hour lunchtime presentation open to all parliamentarians, researchers and other support staff. After an opening speech by Laura, the Director of The Peace Cycle, explaining the aims of the organisation and previous trips to Palestine, a short promotional film was shown with footage from Peace Cycle rides from 2004, 2006 and 2008.[7] Peace Cyclists then presented to Parliamentarians their personal eyewitness accounts of human rights abuses in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Behind the speakers a slideshow of photos from previous Peace Cycle were exhibited on a large screen. Cyclist speakers included:

  • Sami the youngest Peace Cyclist (aged 12 years in 2004 but now a 17 year old young man) discussed the plight of Palestinian young people as they try to follow a course of education against the many challenges that face them. He also described how thousands of olive trees have been uprooted to make way of illegal settlements. Often not mentioned in the media, Sami talked of the daily frustrations and problems that Palestinians face with ebbing water supplies whilst Israelis use Palestinian water supplies in abundance.
  • Nat (the oldest cyclist who had cycled from London to Jerusalem in 2006 aged 70 years) told the audience about the similarities he found in the Occupied Territories and his native South Africa when the world condemned Apartheid. He talked too about some of the difficulties faced by Israeli Arabs who make up 20% of the Israeli population as well as the thousands of refugees whose rights are important too, yet often forgotten by the media.
  • Steve who had originally joined the Peace Cycle in 2006 as a keen cyclist rather than as a peace activist but after seeing what he saw in the Occupied Territories became keener than ever to tell the world about the injustice and unfairness of the thousands of house demolitions by the Israeli Government on the pretext of security and ‘apparent’ lack of permits. He also discussed the separation wall and how this negatively affects local people as well as being illegal and unjust.
  • Mohammad, a Peace Cyclist from Palestine (2004, 2006), who joined us in Brussels told the audience about the reality of life under occupation, of how his father has to leave home at 3am each morning for the three-hour journey to work which before the separation wall was built, would have taken just half an hour. The rising number of checkpoints made life intolerable for most of Palestinian society. He also told the audience about the many political prisoners held in Israeli prisons, including women and children who often had no access to legal assistance and representation.

Heidi, the European Coordinator of the Peace Cycle, talked of the hope to cycle to Gaza in the near future to witness life for ordinary Palestinians there. A Peace Cyclist is at present in Gaza and sent pictures drawn by local school children depicting harrowing scenes from the recent war. It is hoped that these illustrations will be exhibited internationally to show the reality of life for those imprisoned in a war zone.

Finally Cathy, the Policy Researcher for the Peace Cycle, reminded those present that the EU came into existence to end centuries of violence between neighbouring countries, to exist in peace by trading with one other with respect for human rights at its core. Parliamentarians were asked to think carefully before any further voting on the upgrade of the EU-Israel Action Plan, which at present has been put on hold. There was a plea for MEPs to find out more about the reality in Israel and Palestine by visiting both sides of the region and speaking to all communities so that informed decisions could be made. Parliamentarians must not be afraid of speaking out against injustice, however difficult for party politics, as others may well follow not far behind.

The petition, titled Suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement and signed by 17,726 people was presented to Mr Leonidas Tezopsidis, Head of the Middle East and Southern Mediterranean Unit from the Commission’s External Relations Directorate General. The petition was also registered with the Petitions Committee at the European Parliament with the petitions procedure now underway.

3. Photos online:

Photos from Samer Abdallah:

Password: bunchup

Photos from Loic Seurot:

This should work as a direct link but in case you do need to input details:

Username: peacecycle

Password: tpc2009

Photos from the Nederlands Palestina Komitee (NPK):